journeyman
A transgenerational communication device that acts as a personalisable companion to support your child's personal safety and mental health. Designed to encourage a digital detox, the Journeyman will have just two primary interactive features: scroll to relax, and push to connect.
When the device is inactive, the child's interaction levels with the circumferential 'fidget' wheel will be communicated to the parent's receiver device, helping them to identify points of heightened stress or anxiety throughout the school day. After activating the device with the push button, this functions as a scroller search tool. Meanwhile, the push button records and sends voice messages to the chosen contact and has an emergency personal security alarm. The device will be able to attach to a pocket, keychain, or bag for convenience and to prevent the child from losing it.
Initial designs
Younger generations are being exposed to the lure and dangers of modern technology - such as social media content and cyber bullying - at ages young enough to significantly impact their mental health. Although it is important for schoolchildren to stay in contact with friends and family for social benefits and safety reasons, are phones the best solution?
I wanted to design a device with the important communicative functions of an early mobile phone combined with a desirable modern aesthetic. All features would be tailored towards ensuring personal safety and easy communication to benefit the child’s mental health. The intention was to create a companion, not a monitoring device.
unique identity
The device needed to have a unique identity, one that severed its association with the phone. A lot of smartphones designed for children feel belittling, implying a lack of trust. But children need a sense of independence.
compromise
However, it is important that the parents feel they are given all of the information they need about their child's whereabouts and safety. Crucially, this must be done in a way that is not distracting for them while they are at work.
INTERFACE DESIGN
I initially conceptualised this device in the form of a watch for accessibility and a reduced risk of the child losing it. The communicative features could be hidden underneath a swivel watch face using an axle and magnet. However, this could create a negative association of having to hide communicating your safety to your parent/guardian due to fears of judgement and bullying. Watches are also less frequently worn by younger generations due to skin sensitivity.
This watch concept also presented issues regarding interface design. I created some 2D CAD drawings in Fusion 360 using standard watch dimensions. I then laser cut the MDF prototypes, which highlighted an issue. Having a screenless interface would be nearly impossible due to dimensional constraints, resulting in smaller buttons and more fiddly components. Furthermore, the circumferential stress wheel would be uncomfortably small, discouraging the child from using it as a subconscious interactive feature.
Thus, I began considering different ways that the product could attach to a person. After I had redesigned the product with this in mind, I moved on to prototypes that could clip onto a pocket, belt, bag, or keychain. This increased versatility and made the interface easier to design in a way that is understated rather than absorbing by providing enough space for a screenless interface.
SYSTEM MAPPING
3D MODELLING
When I had redesigned the product with versatile attachability options and a simplified, screenless interface, I developed some 3D CAD prototypes using Solidworks.
I 3D printed them in PLA in different sizes and with different attachment methods so that I could wear them for a day and analyse how comfortable they are. I then rescaled the product around the dimensions of a child's palm so that the scroll wheel would be enjoyable to passively interact with as a fidget toy when stressed or anxious.
The product's interactive features have been reduced to a push button and scroll wheel with a simplified LED display.
DIMENSIONING
colour scheme
The device will have personalisable aesthetic features to create a reflection of the users identity. It will have simple colour highlights for the interactive features that can be changed based on preference
personalisation
The device will Bluetooth connect to a parent's phone and a setup app will be downloaded. The child and parent can then customise settings such as contacts and radio channels for communication.
